To my sweet baby on her first birthday....

Harper Sophia,

I can't hardly believe it's been a year since I met you face to face for the first time. My, how fast a year flew by.  They say with each child it seems to go faster and faster, and I can say I am totally experiencing that.  I never knew how much joy a 3rd baby could bring to my heart until you walked into my life.  (or should I say "popped" into my life...ha!)  You are so big now...from this first little picture of you in the hospital's cradle.  You've come a long way in a year.

So much about me has changed as a mother too in a year.  It's funny how with each consecutive child, my mothering seems to adjust and reinvent itself.  I now have permanent bags until my eyes...HA!  That's right Harper.  Mommy sure didn't get a whole lot of sleep this past year.  But you are so worth it.  What I wouldn't give to cuddle you...even in the middle of the night.  I am also a lot more laid back in my mothering style.  I don't go by "the books".  I go by "what is best to survive".  And lean a lot on my instincts.  3rd time around I have learned to just trust my instincts.  Usually they don't fail.  And I am trying hard to just cherish you.  Not wish your baby time away.  Cherish holding you every second.  Cherish watching you feed yourself.  Cherish everytime you look back at me right before you know you are going to be naughty (umhmm..electrical outlet..need I say more Harper?) HA!  I have learned that it's ok to be tired all the time.  This is just a stage of life...that will soon pass way too quickly.  I have also learned, and maybe most important for me, that I cannot be "supermom".  I don't have it all together.  My house is not spotless a majority of the time.  I get stressed easily.  I can't have a lot on my plate.  And it's ok to have a frozen pizza for dinner every once in a while.  I am trying too hard to keep up with everyone else trying to do this, do that, get you involved in this, get you involved in that.  Maybe I am thinking that if I don't you will be behind intellectually or something...I know that is not the case.  Through this year Harper, you showed me that all I need to be is be a loving mother to you....you don't need all that extra stuff.  You just need me.  And not a stressed out me. 

You are so fun right now.  You are starting to say all sorts of words.  "Buh bye!", "Momma", "Dadda", "ALL done!", "Nigh night", "HIIIIII".  You also nodd your head when you want something.  I love it!  You wave bye bye and now you just started pointing.  I think it's adorable.  You started crawling at 11 months, and you are into EVERYTHING.  You especially like opening and closing the cupboards in the kitchen. You are sleeping better these past few nights...going to sleep around 8 and not getting up until between 7 and 8am.  YAH!!  Such a big achievement for you!!  :)  And such a relief for Mommy!  You are still very much a mommy's girl and I hope you always are.  I love the cuddles.

You love to cuddle all your stuffed animals.  You love your Minnie Mouse that is in your crib.  You sleep with your arm around her every night.  I hope you always love to cuddle. 

You are always so great in the nursery or anywhere we go anyplace.  You hardly ever cry and just love to sit and observe.  But if you do want something....you definitely let us know.  You are a lot more laid back then your sister's were and are just content with watching everyone.  Pretty soon you will be right there playing with them.

Harper...God made you so special and unique.  What a precious gift God has given me over this past year!  I can't wait to see your personality blossom and see what interests God has given you.  Thank you for teaching me so much about myself and about God through you.  What a blessing it is to be your Mommy.  I love you so much!  Happy 1st birthday my sweet little Harper.  I am so proud of you!

Birthday Week...

My whole life I have dreamt of being a mom.  I remember my little pudgy hands pushing a stroller around pretending I was the mother of 11 children.  I remember the clank of my little wooden high chair when pushing the tray down getting ready to feed my baby for the upteenth time that day.  I can so easily visualize playing house in my living room...ordering my older brother to play the daddy (which rarely I could convince him to do).  And then when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up?  It was simple.  "A mommy" was all I would reply.  I dreamed for the day when I would have that child of my own to rock to sleep, to feed in a high chair, and to take on stroller rides around the block.

About a year after I got married, I vividly remember going over to my parents for a Sunday evening meal.  I was complaining to my mom about grad school and working full time...felt I had too much on my plate.  I remember my wise mother saying as she placed her arms around my shoulders, "well honey, you are setting yourself up for a great future."  And my reply..."Yes, but Mom, all I really want to do is be a wife and mom right now."  Kids, at that time, were not on our radar (little did I know I was unexpectedly pregnant though!).  Even then, I had that yearning of pushing my little baby in that stroller.  And cuddling that little baby in my arms.

Well, God abundantly blessed me by making all those dreams come true---TIMES 3.  I am forever grateful for the gifts He has given me in my girls. 

But today..I am struggling.  It may sound very up surd to some.  Maybe a little over dramatic to others.  But can I admit that I am struggling that my seemingly last baby is turning 1 this week?  When children dream of being a mom...when I dreamt of being a mom...I dreamt of cuddling that little newborn.  Now...every stage of my girls is AWESOME and so much fun.  But can I grieve that babyhood for me is coming to an end?  I don't want it too.  I LOVE having a baby in my arms.

Isn't kind of ironic that while you are celebrating firsts during that first year of a baby's life...you are also celebrating lasts?  I mean...last time you held your baby's neck to support it's floppy head--she learns to hold it upright.  Last time you worked so hard to get a burp out--she overcame it.  Last time she would wear that adorable outfit that your mom got for her (which meant so much to you)--she outgrew it.  Last time you would be feeding her in the night--she endured it.  Last time she sat still in your lap--she found independence.  Last time you would open a jar of putrid smelling baby food--she learned better.  Last time she would sit in that little whale bathtub--she outgrew it.  Her last back and forth in that swing she spent so many hours in--she moved on.  Last time you could take a shower without fear--she became mobile.  Last time she breastfed---she didn't have time for it anymore. 

And while I am so excited to celebrate my baby's 1st birthday, I am also grieving that this year has gone by so fast--most of it while I was in a blur. And while I am so elated that my baby is achieving all of her milestones and appreciating her God given personality that is coming out, I am sad.  Sad that my baby will now be a toddler.   Sad that most likely I will not have those "firsts" again in my life.  Sad that I know the innocence she has as a baby, will ever too soon be stripped away by the cruelness of this world.  I wish I could hold on to that baby forever.  To shield her from all that hurt that slaps us once her independence hits her.  To keep cuddling every cruel word away.  Keep kissing every mean look off.  To sing off every little bruise. 

But I can't.....

That's not the way God designed this life.  If he had us mother's holding on to all of that, we would have no need for Him.  So I pray...I pray hard that as Harper grows and experiences some of that, that God will "cuddle" every cruel word said to her, that He will "kiss" every tear that those mean looks cause, and He will comfort her in her pain of this earth.  I can't do it all...and I am pretty sure that is why God designed this life as He did.  To push us to depend on Him...not on our Mommas...

So as I am grieving through this...I am also swelling up with joy.  Joy that my baby is learning so much.  Absorbing how cool this world is.  Enjoying how much the little things in life can bring one so much joy.  Today for Finley it was being able to push her own grocery cart at the store.  Those little things that bring us so much joy.  And Harper...well...I can't wait to see her personality bloom.  Excited to see how unique her character is and God's fingerprints all over her.  And even though I miss those "first year" stares with those big blue eyes looking up at me as if I am the only thing that matters in the world, I will bottle up the here and nows of her little being. I will miss the senseless babble that I awaken to every morning coming from down the hall.  Soon that senseless babble will form into words...and I can't wait to hear those words "I love you Momma!" coming from those sweet little lips.  I can even say that I miss those nighttime feedings where I can get full range snuggles from Harper without having to tend to anyone else...where she actually fell asleep in my arms.  But soon...even Harper...will learn that sleep is a precious commodity in life....:)

So even though I grieve, I am so excited to watch my baby blossom and fly into the world with abandon.  Because I will always be there.  Always be there to watch...and most importantly to catch....

Thank you God for this incredible opportunity....

Let them Eat......SOAP!

So...a bit of an update on the new uses for ordinary things---the bathtub.  Well lets just say that that new use lasted us....about a day.  Somebody figured out how to turn on the water.  Yeah...we were in a bit of a soggy mess.  So today...again...I had to get ready for the day.  With a whole bucket of toys outside the bathroom door, Harper decided to crawl on in the bathroom.  Here is how I found her....

Umm...Yes, that is soap.  She had opened a box and got it out.  No...I was NOT washing her sweet little mouth out with soap.  She hasn't gotten that naughty yet!  But needless to say, since the soap smelled ever so fresh and nice, Harper decided she must sample a bit of it....

Ugh...this is not tasting as fresh as it was looking....

Hmm...Not so sure about that stuff.  What is all about that after taste?

YHEW....after taste is  not that tasty....Look...even the soap got stuff in my teeth...

Well...maybe it wasn't so bad...let me try just one more time....not sure about this...

Ok OK...I am sure!  Get this stuff out of my mouth!!!

Mommy...I promise I will never talk back to you....ever....

disclaimer - I normally do NOT let my children eat soap.  But..I just couldn't pass up a good picture.  Plus the soap was only in her mouth for a second.  I totally wiped out her mouth.  NO soap was digested before any of my sweet relatives get mad at me!  HA!



New Uses for Ordinary Things-Take 4

So I thought I would continue my series...new uses for ordinary things.  This idea popped into my head today while playing with Finley.  She actually inspired it.  She has a very vivid imagination.  Plus, she loves making me look like a fool. :)  But I just couldn't resist blogging about it today.  You know I realize these ideas are not rocket science...but I get excited when I can find some very "cheap" entertainment.  Ok...so here is our new use for an ordinary thing.  Well..actually this "ordinary" thing has a few different uses.  And I bet you could come up with a few of your own if you haven't already! 

Here it is....

A CANVAS BOX! 



Super exciting, right?  I am sure we all have this type of thing somewhere in our houses.  We at the Snavely house, have a lot of these.  They are great for the person who does not live inside an "organized mind".  HA!  This is my idea of organization.  Stick anything and everything in these canvas boxes.  Put it on a bookshelf and call it done.  But did you know that these canvas boxes can serve other purposes as well?  Purposes to fully entertain your 3 year old and 11 month old?

So our new use for this ordinary canvas box?

drumroll please.....

Please forgive this photo.  It was taken by a 3 year old....

Slap two paper eyes on it and you are automatically a robot!  Endless laughter for a 3 year old.  But in order for this to fully work you have to talk like this:  "FIIINNNNLEY....takke. me. to. your. leeaader." And movements must be very exaggerated and sharp.  I'm telling you what...getting the type of laughter I got from this 3 year old, was worth every bit of looking like an ever loving fool....

And she even got to try it out....




umm..disclaimer...putting a canvas box on a toddler's head is in no way shape or form like putting a plastic bag on one's head.  No robot was harmed during this entertainment segment...Thank you.....



Ok..another use for a canvas box?  Well this one came out of the mind of little Finley.  She thought of this one all by herself!  She LOVES to play salon.  And why wouldn't a canvas box serve the purpose of a salon dryer!!!!

A SALON DRYER!!!!

And if that isn't enought fun ideas for this box...with a baby it's endless amounts of fun...look here....You can....

Get IN AND OUT of it!

Or You can play Peek a Boo in it!!!

And best yet...what Harper loved about the ordinary canvas box???  This ordinary thing also becomes.....

A DEATH RIDE!!!!!




Actually Harper LOVED riding in it. 
And no baby was harmed during this ride....

 Now...what can you use your canvas box for???

Sweet Moments--Finley Edition...

The purpose of my blog is for me to never forget the joy that my three girls give me. I want them to read back over these entries someday and KNOW that they brought me the most joy in my life that I could have ever imagined. Because...well..I am sure if you saw me on a day to day basis these days, I have to remind myself to be joyful. The monotony of the day to day life with young ones, the over looming cloud of change just above us, and physical exhaustion can be overwhelming at times. I need to remind myself to stop...and to savor the sweet moments...

Hence...Sweet Moments--This one is Finley edition...

Finley was sitting with me at church this week. She was tired. It was a cloudy, gloomy, rainy day, and she didn't want anything to do with Sunday School. I wasn't going to push it. Plus, I was yearning to cuddle with my 2nd born throughout the service. It's not very often where she will sit still in my lap. I could feel Finley taking everything in. The sounds of worship. The beating of the drums. The clapping of hands. And most importantly, the warmth of her Momma's arms embracing her without any other competition. I was soaking it in. Throughout the sermon, she was starting to get restless and wanted to sit in the chair next to me. As she got down, she was carefully observing all the other people around us. Couples young and old sitting next to each other, carefully listening to what God may have them hear. Some with arms around each other. Other's tending to their babies. After Finley got settled in her seat for some time, I got absorbed in the sermon. In my own thoughts. Soon I felt a tiny warmth go across my back. It was Finley's arm. She was putting her arm around me...just like those around us. Pretty soon she started patting my back as well. Such a precious feeling for a Momma. Seeing a way a child learns and processes. Seeing the others do this around us, Finley knew this was a symbol of love and adoration for the other. Oh, how I ate up this sweet sweet moment.

Then today, Finley woke up. Her unruly hair stumbled into my bathroom as I was getting ready.

"Hey baby! How did you sleep last night?" I asked.

She replied, "well..not good. I had a bad dream."

"You did? What was it about?" I pondered. Very concerned as she usually gets me up if she had a bad dream!

"Well..I dreamed that you didn't give me a hug...."

Break.my.heart. That poor baby did have a bad dream! I assured her that I indeed gave her a hug in her sleep as I do every night. But just to think that a mother's touch can have such profound effect on those little ones. Today..she has been getting some extra extra hugs!!

An Apple a Day....

So unlike a lot of folk, those great homemakers I know you all are, I tend to not be as domestic as the "common homemaker". Yes, I do make my own bread and I love to bake...but I don't garden, don't cook gourmet meals, don't iron, and don't dust. And I already admitted I don't like to clean. Well, this weekend I wanted to do something I have never done before--attempt to make applesauce. Now..this may be a no brainer to make for most of you, but for me...it was a new adventure. A new experience. My friend in Virginia inspired me. She served us one evening before we moved this delicious pink applesauce. I have been craving it ever since. So since fall is right around the corner, and my husband has been begging to go to the apple orchard..I happily obliged.

We woke up Saturday morning to lightning and pouring rain. The ordinary person would just assume we would have to cancel our little morning trip. But nooooo, my lovely husband was bound and determined that we would still go. Whether we got soaked or not, we were going to get those apples. He was determined we were "hardcore"---(no apple pun intended).

So I got my apples. I thought I would share with you our little adventure in applesauce making.

Off to the Orchard we went. This is the only picture I got of us at the orchard because of the rain. I think we were the only people there besides the workers. HA! We did get some good apple cider donuts though! For me that was worth the trip and getting wet! :)

The Farmer in the Dell..The Farmer in the Dell...Hi HO the Apple O the Farmers in the Dell...

We got our Apples. I got 10 pounds of Cortland Apples. I wanted to get pink applesauce and this is what my friend used.

Next we sliced the apples. No need to peel them!

Threw them in a pot with a little water....and cooked over medium high heat. Does it ever make your house smell like fall!!

The Peels come right off as you cook them. We let the apples cook down until they were really mushy!

And then with a potato masher...we mashed the heck out of those apples. That was fun! :) It took out a lot of my frustration...a good stress reliever! :)

And voila...PINK applesauce with no food coloring...(it really is not as chunky as it looks in this picture...)

I had visions of applesauce making all day. So I got my tupperware containers, I got all my apples. I had visions of gift giving of pink applesauce for Christmas, new neighbor gifts, and a year supply of my own family's consumption. Ummm...look what 10 pounds of apples made me.... Umm...applesauce making is soooooo overrated.....

New Uses for Ordinary Things-Take 3...

Here at this household, we strive to become creative. We strive to be creative so we can survive. Surviving means a variety of things to us. To my husband, surviving means obtaining the latest bit of technology...( honey bunches...do we REALLY need to get a PS3. Yes, Yes, I understand that you feel your call of duty is to play Call of Duty..but really?) ,. For me, surviving means going through a day without getting poop on my hands.

So for today's New Uses for Ordinary things, I am combining a little a both--technology and my sanity....

Ok here it is....an Ordinary thing:

An I-POD

In this day in age, I would assume most of use have and use an ipod or an mp3 player on a weekly basis. This little bit of technology has made life a-bun-detly easier on getting my own "bun" in shape on the treadmill. But did you know it could be used for this??

Drumroll Please......

A New use for an ordinary thing---take 3....

An I -(don't hear any whining or asking for junk) Pod

Let me tell you folks...this little bit of technology has served it glorious purpose within the confines of the grocery store (aka-hell on earth with little ones...)

Here is how you use it...

-Get a pair of headsets that look like they were invented in 1981.

-Insert headsets in I-(don't hear any whining) Pod.

-Place gently on 3 year olds year.

-Turn on "Jesus" music.

-Crank the I - (don't hear any whining) Pod's volume halfway. This way it is really funny to hear the 3 year old when she does try to tell you something. It is very loud. HA!

-Place 3 year old in basket of the cart. (Warning--do not let them walk with I- (don't hear in whining) Pod. THEY.DO.NOT.WATCH.WHERE.THEY.ARE.GOING. Bad idea near a display of goldfish...need I say more?)

-Happily stroll through the grocery store without hear phrases like- "Mommy can we get this!" "Mommy, I am really hungry for this!" "I WANT THIS RIGHT NOW" "I'm bored..." "Are we done yet?"

-When going through the check out lane, carefully remove headsets from 3 year old's ear. We wouldn't want the checkout lady to "label" us a careless mom for letting our 3 year old listen to loud music.

-Leave grocery store without sweat stains under your armpits and with more hair in tact (on your head that is!)

See now don't you want to try this?

See even both children were dancing and singing a long....

An all around Happy experience

Now why don't you use your I - (don't hear any whining) Pod. I promise...you'll never look at the grocery store the same again.

Confessions....

So not only would I like to embark upon the task of coming up with new uses for ordinary things, I would also like to use this blog as my confessional box or my confessional booth so to speak. It's kind of like Pilgrim's Progress and I am Christian, trying to unload my burdens. So today I have two confessions, but they kind of fit into one. This is something that is so hard for me to admit. I mean, I am a stay at home mom, a wife, and mother of 3 children and I feel like a failure even admiting this. Ok...here it goes...

I HATE TO CLEAN.....

Whew...that felt good to get off my chest. Ok wait...not quite done...

I DESPISE TO CLEAN....

Better.

Ok, now I am not talking about me, myself. I in fact DO like the feeling of being clean. (And even if I didn't, do you think I would want to admit that one here?) But I don't like cleaning. I like living in an orderly home. But I am not the kind of mom that things are always in order and all the right times. Pop in visits at my house? Well, not greatly appreciated although anyone is welcome to do that. Just know that I am undeniably embarrassed about the way my house looks because I didn't have time to shove all the toys, laundry, dirty underwear inside the oven and under the sofas before you got here. But since I am a stay at home mom, I feel like the house should always be clean so therefore I am not doing my job very well. Does anyone else feel like this?

This leads me to confession #2....

I am a self-professed GERMOPHOB!

I hate being sick. I hate when my kids are sick. The mention of throw up...and I am running in the other direction. Now, I have not always been like this. Just since I started having kids. Everytime we have the stomach flu in this house, it seems like a death sentence for me. I hate hate hate it. I will bathe my children in anti-bacterial hand santizer after E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

So when Reese started throwing up this week...it sent me in a tizzy. I could not stop. Stop doing what you might ask? CLEANING! I was a cleaning WHORE. Yellow rubber gloves, disinfectant spray galore, and my ever so fashionable hospital mask. Steve walked in the house for lunch...first words out of his mouth as the smell wifted into his nose, "Wow...you must be in a cleaning mood." (It doesn't happen very much obviously). I couldn't stop myself...It was like a treasure hunt..searching for any dust, dirt, grime, puke, and poop that I could find. The house looked great.....

for like 5 minutes....

Then it was destroyed by 3 little monsters. Then I hit my reality again. I hate cleaning.

I hate cleaning because at this stage in my life...what is the point?

But I do love cleaning up this little one! She was in need of a serious tub after eating blueberries and raspberries for the first time.

She was quite proud of herself for the mess she made...

But I quickly forgave her after her bath...because who just wouldn't love that little smile!

New Uses for Ordinary things continued...

So today I was not looking to update my list of new uses for ordinary things But as you stay at home moms know, every day is quite an adventure. Thus, my adventure for today can definitely be put in the list of New uses for ordinary things..

Well here is the ordinary thing that we all have had at our house at some point..

A big ol' lollipop. This is something that has been sitting in the bottom of our stroller for about 3 weeks. Daddy bought it for Finley (ahem..thanks Daddy...) and I have tried to hide it. Well alas, despite my valient efforts to keep Finley from partaking in this cavity sucking, tooth decaying, ADHD envoking little stick, I lost the battle. She found it and she just.had.to.have.it. Ok...I gave in. Really after this week, I have little fight left in me. So I gave it to her with strict instructions:

"Finley, you sit at the table and suck on it. You do not get up, and YOU WILL NOT EAT THE WHOLE THING."

And then I went up to put Harper to bed. I was gone about 3 minutes. And when I came back downstairs I found a new use for a Lollipop....

A TOOTH CHIPPER!!!!!!!!

So..for all of you Moms who just can't wait to see your dentist....try a Lollipop. Not only does it give your kids buckets of sugar inducing cavaties, but it also chips teeth! I know that we Moms can get somewhat desperate for dialogue during the day with other individuals even if this does include your pediatrician or dentist...or maybe your dentist is cute...and you are in need of serious eye candy.....but I regress...use caution when using a lollipop.

ugh....off to the dentist we go....

ps-Just to verify so I am not in trouble tonight....the only eye candy (well any candy I need for that matter...) I need comes through my door at 5:30pm---I love you honey...!! :) :) HAHA!

New uses for ordinary things...

Do you read Real Simple magazine? I love the section in it that's entitled something along the lines of "new uses for ordinary things". So I thought I would start my own list and post about it everytime I came up with a new idea for an ordinary thing. Now for some of you, this idea may not be new to you at all...but for me, and how seemingly "slow" I can be sometimes, I pat myself on the back for it's new use and somewhat "creative" idea I had to come up with in order to survive...

So for today's new uses for ordinary things, I will have to back track a little ways on how I had to use this ordinary thing in order to survive. It all started yesterday while I was "attempting" on getting a shower and getting ready for the day. (umhum...nevermind that it was 2pm...) I had a little baby who insisted on not napping. So she has to obviously be in the same room as me..and since it was already 2pm (shhh..don't tell my hubby!), I was going to get a shower! I put on a Baby Einstein DVD for little Harps and went about my duty. When I got out..much to my dismay, it appeared we had a little intruder...

Oh no..I didn't see anyone come in while I was getting ready....!! And then I saw the intruder...caught cold handed.... smelling....soap!


"What are you looking at Mom? I just needed to clean my ears!"


"Mommy...aren't you proud of me...look what I found!"

Hmm...what a mess! This little stinker is getting into everything now!





So today, I had to come up with a different strategy. Hence..my new use for an ordinary thing...ready.....drumroll please....

That's right! The bathtub easily converts into a play pen! HA! This kept her entertained for a loooooong time....well..until she figured out how to turn on the water!

hmm..I wonder how long I can get this to work?

Living in the Land of Changes....Yuck!

So..I have been pretty awful about blogging on here. I started this blog as a way to record my thoughts, experiences, and adventures to share with my three girls. I am not a scrapbooker nor have I been fairly good at recording all of their "firsts" in their baby books...much to my demise. So I thought this would be my way of recording all that stuff plus stories about them! Well...I am determined to be better. I am determined to take the time. And quite honestly, I hardly have had a moment to spare in the day. Harper hardly ever sleeps and when she does my dirty house is yelling at me. Not my blog. And when I get as busy as I feel we have been, I rarely get inspired to write something. And when I get as busy as I feel, I rarely stop to savor my sweet babies. I rarely stop to savor their sweet smells, their sweet sayings, their sweet voices, and their sweet repetitive actions (ie..Harper taking apart every puzzle she can get her hands on..). Ok...let me be honest...I HATE being busy. I HATE not savoring every aspect of what is seemingly frustrating at the time (wiping Finley's rear 10 times a day!..well ok, I don't want to savor that!), knowing that it will be over before a blink of an eye.

I need a perspective change...and I need it quicky..because...well...life is not going to slow down any time soon. Life is changing ever so quickly...

And yes...it is changing because my little baby is not so little anymore (her 1st birthday is this month) and because my first born is in 1st grade, and because my 3 year old is going to be in kindergarten in two years....but that is not the only reason it's changing. It's changing because I am going back to work. Well...just part time...but still...this is going to be a big change for me. I have to be honest that I have really struggled with this aspect of working...even if it's just part time. I.don't.want.to.miss.a.moment. I savor every little aspect of my days with them. And even though I am only working 2 days starting out, I know I will crave those little babes those 2 full days. But I feel like right now this is what I need to be doing for our family. For our girl's future. And for my own future. My dear precious children, please know that life is changing because I want the best for your future, and I will do my best in trying to prioritize this new lifestyle. I have had two great opportunities present itself to me--one is a counseling/skill building job which helps me obtain my counseling license and the other is a teaching job (intro to psychology) at a community college. Once I start teaching, I will be working 2 full days and 2 half days. Who knows...I may really enjoy taking off my mommy hat for awhile and having time in the grown up world. It is a great opportunity for me to decide which career path is best for me for when my babes are all in school (teaching or counseling). God has given me these great opportunities in a poor economic time, so for that I feel very blessed. If anyone knows me, they know that I don't like change. I mean I am someone who won't even change my sheets on the bed for fear that the seasons will change too quickly...ha! Please pray for us as we all adjust to this new change.

Well, in other news...Reese started 1st grade. She seems to be having a fun time. She has trouble getting going in the morning, but when she comes home from school she is usually very happy. There was one day in which I got a call from the school nurse saying that Reese had an earache. Now this is rare...Reese never has problems with her ear. She had no fever, nothing. But we had had a bad morning that morning so I knew it was more emotional then physical. I went up to the school to give her some tylenol and when she saw me she just burst into tears. "Mommy I want to come home! Please Mommy!" Oh it broke my heart to send her back in that classroom. She was so homesick. But I didn't want her to think that everytime she misses me or when something doesn't go her way she gets to come home. She ended up being fine the rest of the day at school, but it broke my heart.

Harper is officially crawling. She started right at 11 months. She is so cute. She takes her sweet time getting to wear she wants...just like her personality. She do things in her own sweet time. She is still my cuddler. LOVES to hug. LOVES to snuggle. I LOVE it. It breaks my heart she is almost 1 year old!! But she is so much fun. Now that she is mobile it does make life pretty interesting..and yes...BUSY! She has only fallen down the stairs once (thanks Finley for not shutting the door!), but praise the Lord she was fine. Scared me to pieces though.

Finley is still Finley. She is "out there" man! :) I love it. She is 90% in her own little dream world. I love seeing her imagine and boy, does she come up with some duzzies! She is my dreamer...and I hope she never looses that. I decided not to send her to preschool this year. I want all the time with her that I can get before the cycle of school starts. We are doing some preschool at home together. I also signed her up for dance (pics to come when that starts!), Cubbies for Awana, a Cooking class at the Y, and a tumbling class at the Y. I am sure we will keep pretty busy!

And now, I have a ton a pics that I haven't posted yet. I promise..I am going to make a resolution and be better blogging...I wanted to do it every day orginally...but lets just go with at least once a week now!

My Girl and I at the Balloon Festival..

Harper LOVED watching the ballons in the sky!

Daddy and his girl!

Mimi and Grandpa came for a visit during the State Fair..it was fun having him here and getting a picture with both set of grandparents!! We are blessed we are so loved!

Our cousins came for a visit as well. They all had some fun flip flops!


Look whose crawling!!! It's precious...she is very methodical in her crawling...slow and steady but still enough to get her in plenty of trouble! HA!


She's getting so big so fast!!

Her fun smile...I love how she wrinkles her nose!

Ok...blogger is not uploading my pictures right now which is highly annoying...I will try again later!